Assessing directionality and institutional production in SDG localisation: Lessons from Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Cities are actively seeking pathways to localise the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] to address urban challenges and drive broader sustainability transitions. Despite increasing momentum, scholars note numerous barriers related to the translation of SDGs into local strategic planning, particularly the lack of consideration of synergies and trade-offs. Such hurdles risk weakening g the directionality of SDGs localisation. We point to the potential of mission-oriented policy thinking aiming to ensure long-term directionality and coherence of policy responses to the challenges posed by the SDGs in practice. Through the case study of the City of Melbourne (Australia), we offer new empirical insights into how mission-oriented policy thinking is useful for progressing the localisation of SDGs. We do so by offering a new analytical framework drawing upon Bergek et al. (2023) and Patterson (2021) to firstly examine directionality challenges in localising SDGs and secondly to identify points of institutional progression and potential gridlocks during these processes.